Media artist Toshio Iwai and Yamaha have collaborated to design a new digital musical instrument for the 21st century, Yamaha Tenori-On. A 16x16 matrix of LED switches allows everyone to play music intuitively, creating a "visible music" interface.

The Tenori-On 16 x 16 LED button matrix is simultaneously a performance input controller and display. By operating and interacting with the LED buttons and the light they produce you gain access to the Tenori-On's numerous performance capabilities. The Tenori-On provides six different performance and sound / light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.

Controls

Yamaha Tenori-On layers can be thought of as "performance parts" or "recording tracks." The Tenori-On has a total of 16 layers. Separate notes and voices can be assigned to each layer, and all layers can be played together in synchronization. The 16 layers are divided into six performance mode groups as shown in the illustration below. The six modes have different note entry methods and operation. Up to 16 layers created using different modes can be combined for rich, complex musical expression.

One complete set of 16 layers is called a "block." The Tenori-On can store up to 16 programmed blocks (16-layer groups) in memory, and you can switch from block to block instantly during performance. You could, for example, create a musical composition in one block, then copy that composition to another block and edit it to create a variation of the original composition. Or you can load a number of previously-created compositions into separate blocks from an SD Memory Card and switch between them to create variation during playback.

Hookups

The Yamaha Tenori-On provides six different performance and sound / light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.

Score Mode Performance Press an LED button briefly to play the sound assigned to it. At the same time the lights will flash outward from the played sound. If you hold the LED button a bit longer it will remain lit and will become an active note that will play repeatedly. Press and hold an active note to de-activate it. The loop indicator will be continuously cycling from the left to right edge of the LED button matrix. Active notes will play when the loop indicator coincides with their positions on the matrix.

Random Mode Performance If you press an LED button long enough to enter an active note in the Random Mode, the active note will play back repeatedly. If you then enter a few more active notes, the lights will "travel" from note to note, in the order entered, and the active notes will sound when the traveling light passes over them. The Random Mode thus produces a totally different type of loop from the Score Mode. You can even spin loop-shapes you create in the Random Mode by holding the [L4] button and running a finger around the matrix in the direction and at the speed of the desired spin. The pitches of the notes will change accordingly as the shape spins, producing loop sound effects. To stop rotation, press and hold the LED button or press the same LED button twice while holding the [L4] button.

Draw Mode Performance In this mode you can press individual LED buttons or draw lines or curves on the matrix, and those actions will be played back and repeated. You can keep adding to your "composition" during playback to build up thick sonic textures. In the Draw Mode you cannot clear only a part of the performance. The entire layer can be cleared by pressing the [CLEAR] button.

Bounce Mode Performance Press an LED button and the light will "drop" from that button, bounce back from the bottom of the matrix, and repeat. The corresponding note will sound when the light bounces at the bottom row. The higher the entry point, the longer the interval between the sound. In the Bounce Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano, with the lowest pitch on the left and the highest on the right.

Push Mode Performance In this mode if you press and hold an LED button the sound of the corresponding note will begin to change gradually while the flashing surrounding that button gets brighter and wider. If the button is held briefly the note and flashing will stop when you release it, but if you hold the button for longer the note and flashing will continue even after the button is released.

Solo Mode Performance Press an LED button and the corresponding note will repeat until the button is released. In the Solo Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano. You can change the interval between repeats by pressing or sliding your finger to a lower (longer) or higher (shorter) LED button in the column. If you press the lowest LED button in a column the note will sound once without any repeats.

By holding one of the ten function buttons located on either side of the Yamaha Tenori-On and operating the LED buttons you can change voices, change octaves, and apply a variety of effects and variations to your performance. This unique visual/tactile interface has been specifically designed to allow intuitive, instantaneous operation of a variety of functions.-L1 : Changing Voices You can select any voice from the 256 voices available in one quick operation. When you press and hold the [L1] button vertical and horizontal lines will light on the matrix, and the button at their intersection corresponds to the currently selected voice. If you press a different LED button while these crossed lines are showing the intersection will move to that button and the corresponding voice will be selected.-L2 : Changing Note Length Sets the length of the notes from the time they are triggered to the time they decay to silence (the gate time). While holding the [L2] button slide your finger horizontally over the matrix to move the lit vertical line to the desired setting. Moving the line to the right increases the note length.-L3 : Changing Octaves Sets the playback pitch in octave increments. While holding the [L3] button slide your finger vertically over the matrix to move the lit horizontal line to the desired octave.-L4 : Changing Loop Points Sets the loop playback range in the Score Mode. While holding the [L4] button slide your finger horizontally over upper half of the matrix to move the loop start point indicator to the desired point, and slide your finger horizontally over lower half of the matrix to move the loop end point indicator to the desired point, as required. (In the Random Mode this function sets the rotation direction and speed) (Not available in the Draw, Bounce, Push and Solo Modes)-L5 : Changing Loop Speed Sets the loop playback speed (the duration of the beats). Four settings are available, set via the leftmost four columns on the matrix: quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and thirty-second notes. While holding the [L5] button press a button in the corresponding column. (Not available in the Push Mode)-R1 : Switching Layers Switches to a different layer. While holding the [R1] button slide your finger vertically over the matrix to move the lit horizontal line to the desired layer. Moving the line to the lowest row selects layer 01, the next row up is layer 02, then layer 03, and so on up to layer 16.-R2 : Changing Tempo Sets the playback tempo (BPM). While holding the [R2] button slide your finger horizontally over the matrix to move the lit vertical line to the desired tempo setting. Moving the line to the right produces faster tempos.-R3 : Transposition Adjusts the playback pitch in semitone increments. While holding the [R3] button slide your finger vertically over the matrix to move the lit horizontal line to the desired pitch.-R4 : Changing the Layer Volume Displays the individual volume settings of all 16 layers, and allows the volume of each layer to be adjusted as required to create the ideal "mix" between layers. Each row of LED buttons corresponds to layer, beginning with layer 01 at the bottom row. While holding the [R4] button slide your finger horizontally over the row corresponding to the layer you want to adjust to set the volume as required. Each LED button row corresponds to a layer (01 - 16 from bottom to top), and the horizontal axis corresponds to volume level with volume increasing towards the right (the leftmost setting corresponds to "0" volume).-R5 : Switching Blocks Switches to a different block. While holding the [R5] button slide your finger horizontally over the matrix to move the lit vertical line to the desired block. Moving the line to the leftmost column selects block 01, the next column to the right is block 02, then block 03, and so on up to block 16.